Metallic Striping on Roads for Vehicle Guidance

ABSTRACT

In current highway transportation systems pavement markings guide vehicles along roads. A new system using metallic objects and electromagnetic sensing equipment would enable vehicles to better navigate roads. Metallic objects are placed on roadway surfaces in a similar fashion of existing pavement markings. The metallic objects are patterned to develop a code of information that is detectable using electromagnetic fields. When these fields are detected, the vehicles can be fully or semi-autonomously guided using the information communicated by the metallic filings.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/465,732, fled Mar. 1, 2017

COMPONENT ONE (1) OF A VEHICLE GUIDANCE SYSTEM

A system of metallic objects and detectors which together communicate information about roadways to vehicles, drivers and/or passengers. More specifically, this system includes the following:

-   -   1. Metallic materials placed in and on the roadway surface that         supplements pavement markings which are     -   2. patterned or coded to transfer information to,     -   3. the apparatus that emits and senses electromagnetic fields         and uses it for vehicle guidance.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

See Information Disclosure Statement (IDS).

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Nonapplicable.

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Nonapplicable.

SEQUENCE LISTING

Nonapplicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES

Nonapplicable.

BACKGROUND

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/465,732, filed Mar. 1, 2017

This product relates to transportation, particularly roads and highways.

Pavement markings have been in existence for a very long time. They guide vehicle operators around corners and obstacles. They mark out lanes to keep vehicles separated from each other and generally allow people and products to travel safely on roads and highways.

The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) thoroughly describes where and what pavement markings are placed on roadways. The MUTCD describes where pavement markings are placed (Section 3). The MUTCD further describes what pavement markings are composed of, and states that, “Pavement and curb markings are commonly placed by using paints or thermoplastics . . . ” (Section 3A.04.01). Pavement markings are the standard for vehicle guidance on roadways, both in the USA and throughout the world.

However, the current automobile market continues to innovate. Its technology advancements are turning automobiles into smart automobiles, edging closer and closer to autonomously directed vehicles.

There are a few different technologies available to direct and guide autonomous vehicles: RFID, GPS, sonar/radar and optical sensing equipment. Unpowered RFID is generally limited by very short distances. Powered RFID is available, but of course is limited by power availability and supply. GPS is limited by accuracy. The sonar/radar and optical options are the most prevalent in current use. However, sonar's disadvantage is that it is limited by the ability to only detect relatively large objects. The disadvantage of the optical use technologies is that they are limited and sometimes impaired by obstructions in line of sight. Another disadvantage of current optical systems is that they are limited and possibly impaired during periods of inclement weather and extreme light and darkness.

Pavement markings are what optical systems use to navigate vehicles, but the markings themselves are also limited by visibility; they must be optically seen to be useful in guidance systems. Therefore the existing pavement marking system that is optically driven, is the limitation of advanced guidance systems. However, there is another solution: Metallic objects placed on roadway surfaces enabling vehicles to read the road using electromagnetic fields.

SUMMARY

Metallic filings placed on roadway surfaces enables vehicles to navigate roads fully or semi-autonomously by using electromagnetic fields to navigate the roadway. Metallic filings are placed in patterns on roadway surfaces and oriented in a similar fashion to existing pavement markings. The metallic filings create a code of information that is detectable using electromagnetic fields. When detected, vehicles can be fully or semi-autonomously guided using the information communicated by the patterns and orientations of the metallic filings.

DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION

Metallic Striping on Roads for Vehicle Guidance: Drawing #1002

FIG. 1102

-   -   Shows metallic filings placed on the roadway surface and adhered         to the surface.     -   Paint/pigment completely covers the metallic filings. Glass         beads are shown to depict typical installation on roadway         surfaces.

FIG. 1104

-   -   Shows a typical vertical cross section and top/down view of         multilane traffic separated by pavement markings.

Metallic Striping on Roads for Vehicle Guidance: Drawing #1004

FIG. 1106

-   -   Shows vehicles traveling with electromagnetic activator passing         nearby the metallic filings and activating a new electromagnetic         field generated by the metallic filings.

Metallic Striping on Roads for Vehicle Guidance: Drawing #1006

FIG. 1108

-   -   Metallic plates placed on the roadway surface and adhered to the         surface. Paint/pigment completely covers the metallic plates.         Glass beads are shown to depict typical installation on roadway         surfaces.

Metallic Striping on Roads for Vehicle Guidance: Drawing #1006

FIG. 1110

-   -   Metallic plates/filings imbedded into preformed pavement         markings. The pavement markings then placed and joined with the         roadway surface. Retro-reflective surface shown to depict         typical installation on roadway surfaces.

Metallic Striping on Roads for Vehicle Guidance: Drawing #1008

FIG. 1112

-   -   Metallic paint and nonmetallic paint placed on the roadway         surface and adhered to the surface. Glass beads are shown to         depict typical installation on roadway surfaces.

INVENTION DESCRIPTION

Pavement markings are commonly placed with paint or preformed thermoplastics. Adding metallic filings to the pavement markings creates another guidance system that is more easily detectable to automated equipment.

Composition

The creation of the subject product is represented in FIG. (1102). Initially, metallic filings (2) are placed on the roadway surface (10). The metallic filings would be placed in a flat, uniform layer. After placement, an adhesive (6) is applied to keep the metallic filings (2) stationary. After the adhesive (6) joins the metallic filings (2) to the roadway surface (10), paint/pigment (6) is applied to color the pavement markings. The adhesive and paint/pigment (6) would be placed in a flat, uniform layer. Optionally, a retro-reflective surface can be created using glass beads (8) which are placed on the paint/pigment (6) before the paint cures. The glass beads are placed in relatively flat, uniform layer.

Orientation on Roadway Surface

Pavement markings are placed on roadways to guide vehicles in lanes and around obstacles. The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) thoroughly describes how pavement markings are oriented on a roadway surface, but generally speaking, pavement markings are placed parallel to the centerline of the roadway.

FIG. (1104) shows an example of how metallic filings (2) are placed in combination with pavement markings. Two oncoming vehicles (12) are separated from two departing vehicles (14) by a double solid yellow stripe (20) pavement marking. Each set of vehicles (departing/oncoming) is separated from each other by a single dashed white stripe (18) pavement marking. The leftmost and rightmost vehicles are separated from the edge of the roadway by a solid white stripe (16) pavement marking. The different patterns on each stripe are examples of how the metallic filings are placed in combination with pavement markings.

Pattern of Placement

The pattern of placed metallic fillings is also important in order to communicate information to vehicles. The simplest pattern of placement could be a solid line. However, to use the metallic filings more efficiently, the metallic filings could be placed with breaks (4) creating a patter of placed and unplaced filings, as shown in FIGS. 1102, 1104, 1106, 1108, 1110. The pattern would create a code and almost unlimited information could be shared from the road to the vehicle. An even more complex option could be a patter that incorporates a variety of lengths and/or metallic types of the placed filings.

Some good examples of placement patter are in codes that already exist such as Morse code and Bar code. Morse code is a good example of a code, language or patter of placement, to communicate information. Bar code is another example. There may be other codes that could be used or created to best utilize the material placed and communicate information. These are not limitations to the scope of the patter of metallic filings, but merely examples on how the pattern of placement could be best utilized.

INVENTION DESCRIPTION—OPERATION

-   -   1. In FIG. 1106, the metallic filings (2) are placed on the         roadway surface (10). They remain indefinitely unless they need         to be removed, reset or replaced by the roadway owner. From the         point of placement forward, the metallic filings (2) remain in         their natural state, passive.     -   2. The metallic filings (2) become active, or are activated,         when acted upon by either the upward traveling vehicle (22) or         the downward traveling vehicle (24) which each have four         electromagnetic field generators (26) attached to the vehicle.         The electromagnetic field generators (26) produce         electromagnetic fields (28). The electromagnetic field passes         into the metallic filings (2) generating a new electromagnetic         field (30). The new electromagnetic field (30) is then         detectable and available for use in navigation.

INVENTION DESCRIPTION—ADVANTAGES

-   -   1. Roadway Information transfer to automobiles.     -   2. Environmentally/renewable friendly         -   a. Iron is an element found naturally in the environment.         -   b. Iron filings can be collected and redistributed.     -   3. Current automated navigation systems can be visually impaired         by inclement weather: rain, dust, snow, fog, etc. These types of         weather reduces and many times eliminate the abilities of the         current units to navigate the road. Metallic Striping continues         to function in inclement weather because it is not limited by         line of sight.     -   4. Current automated navigation systems can be visually impaired         by light. Dawn, dusk, headlights and other sources of light         pollution reduce and may eliminate the capabilities of current         units. The Metallic Striping continues to function in darkness         and extreme light pollution because it uses a system that is not         limited by the absence or presence of light.     -   5. Current automated navigation systems utilize GPS technology.         However GPS technology is typically limited to a 3 meter (9         feet) accuracy. Public roads and highways typically range         between 9 and 14 feet lane widths; consequently GPS is not         accurate enough to keep vehicles in lanes. The use of metallic         filings to delineate traffic is not limited by the inadequately         large distances as provided by current systems, but can keep         vehicles within inches of the traveling lane edge.     -   6. Current vehicle redirection systems are physical barriers         that when struck, cause damage to the barrier, the vehicle, and         its occupants. The physical barrier and the vehicle typically         require maintenance, repair or replacement. However, injured         occupants can receive bodily damage up to and including death.         Using metallic filings to redirect vehicles can reduce and         potentially prevent the vehicle's physical contact with barriers         thereby potentially eliminating the need for maintenance, repair         or replacement to physical barriers and vehicles, and prevent         bodily injury and/or death to vehicle occupants.     -   7. Current advances in technology have or are developing         guardrail systems that are active systems meaning they must be         powered. The metallic filings do not require a power source to         be “on” and therefore does not require a separate power source         to be active.     -   8. There are few highway systems in place that prevent         intentional or unintentional departures from traveling lane into         oncoming vehicles. A collision at high rates of speed (55 mph)         from both vehicles doubles resultant collision with a solid         object (110 mph). These collisions typically result in multiple         fatalities. Using metallic filings to warn, deflect, and stop         vehicles that have departed traveling lanes can reduce and         potentially eliminate high speed head-on collisions, because it         can stop or redirect the errant vehicle resulting in a lower         speed collision or no collision at all.     -   9. All vehicles (past, present and future) can utilize the         roadway information distributed through metallic fillings.     -   10. The metallic fillings work in conjunction with other systems         because it utilizes technology that doesn't interfere with         systems that utilize optics, GPS and radar/sonar.

INVENTION DESCRIPTION—CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE Ramifications:

-   -   1. Instead of metallic filings, various sizes of metallic plates         are used in placement, composition and pattern of placement,         documented in section ten (10) Description and shown in FIG.         (1108). The metallic plates would be joined to the roadway         surface using adhesive and/or fasteners.     -   2. Painted markings are only one form of currently utilized         pavement marking. As shown in FIG. (1110), thermoplastic,         elastomeric and other forms of preformed pavement markings could         also be created with imbedded metallic filings and/or metallic         plates. These could be created to serve the same purpose of         communicating road and highway information to vehicles.     -   3. Instead of metallic filings, various sizes of metallic paint         is used in placement, composition and pattern of placement         documented in section ten (10) Description and shown in FIG.         (1112).     -   4. Metallic filings and/or metallic plates could be embedded in         the roadway surface rather than placed on it as documented in         the placement portion of section ten (10) Description     -   5. Metallic filings and/or metallic plates could be placed         adjacent to the roadway surface rather than placed on it as         documented in the placement portion of section ten (10)         description.

Scope:

Using metallic objects and electromagnetivity in transportation as a method of guidance for vehicles is useful, novel, and unobvious. Placing metallic filings and/or plates in painted pavement markings for vehicle guidance is a new use for an old article. However, incorporating metallic filings and/or plates in preformed pavement markings for vehicle guidance is a new composition of an existing article. There are many different methods to create the metallic objects based guidance system. The options listed above are not a limitation of the scope of the utility of the device. The options listed above are merely examples of how it could be used in existing industry standards and be quickly implemented in existing transportation systems.

Conclusion:

Metallic Striping on Roads for Vehicle Guidance was developed to facilitate the movement, separation (typically transverse), and flow of vehicles. It is a technology used to guide vehicles along roadways that protects public and private property and ensures the safety of those traveling. It is both inexpensive and effective at keeping vehicles in their lanes and on the road. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for guiding vehicles comprising metallic materials placed as pavement markings and an apparatus connected to vehicles that is capable of creating and sensing electromagnetic fields.
 2. Roadway markings comprising: a. a roadway surface, of sufficient size to accommodate use of vehicles, b. metallic material, of sufficient size to reflect electromagnetic fields to accommodate use by road users, c. means for joining said metallic materials to said roadway surface to prevent unintentional movement.
 3. Roadway markings comprising: a. a roadway surface, of sufficient size to accommodate use of vehicles, b. metallic material,
 1. of sufficient size to reflect electromagnetic fields to accommodate use by road users,
 2. of sufficient orientation to provide guidance to road users,
 3. of sufficient pattern or code to communicate information to road users, c. means for joining said metallic material to said roadway surface to prevent unintentional movement. 